We were lucky to catch up with Asia Antoinette Cunningham recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Asia Antoinette thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?
The things I would have done differently would have been to do more focused research, attend networking events; and take acting classes that would put you in front of casting directors, talent agents and managers. This would help prevent you from running into scams, which I unfortunately experienced a few. During that time, I began to become discouraged but it never diminished the burning passion in my heart for acting!
In 2021, I started to go full throttle with my acting career and started to get connected with the right people to set me up for success. It’s all about making the right connections and networking.
Being a woman you always want to be careful and safe. Always read over all your contracts or have a lawyer read them for you. Share your location with your loved ones when you are going on sets. Film locations change all the time and knowing a loved one has your location eases your mind so that you can focus on your role!
Also, figure out which market/markets you want to go into such as: commercial , film, theater etcetera and decide what location would you like to work in LA, Atlanta, DMV or so on. Save your money to relocate to those areas so that you can have more opportunities to be casted for a role.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Asia Antoinette Cunningham also known as Asia Antoinette was born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She has been passionate about acting since she was just five years old. Asia has an impressive acting and modeling portfolio, having been a part of 20 plus films, 5 plays, 3 TV series, 5 commercials, and a historical documentary on CNN.
In February 2021, she finally got her big break as a BG in the film “We Go Deep” and it gave her a taste of what it’s like to work in the film industry, which she loved. While on set, she met several people who quickly became her closest friends and introduced her to the right people.
Her amazing mentor, Tara Garwood, Tarakata Films, has made a huge impact in her life and guiding her in her career. Asia began taking lessons from her talented and supportive coaches, Mark McKinnon at the “McKinnon Acting Studio” and Percy Thomas from “Amazing Theatre”. To maximize her opportunities, she joined several casting websites and started following casting directors to discover exciting opportunities.
Asia has held two pageant titles, being crowned as Ms. Maryland Royalty International in 2022 and Ms. Maryland All-American in 2023.
She is most proud of accomplishing her goals and dreams that she has set for herself such as: winning a national pageant title as the 2023-2024 All American Ms. and All American Spokesmodel with the All American pageant.
She is also proud to be a model in New York Fashion Week with “Beauty It’s Everywhere”, CEO Rene Bionat, on February 9-10, 2024 in New York at the New Yorker Hotel. In addition to her acting experience, she has also done several modeling segments on “Good Morning Washington”, and Fox 5 News with the talented Tonia Michelle. Also, she had an incredible opportunity last fall where she was casted with Timeless Entertainment with Gill and Pam Nelson in a play called “The Weekend” of which she always dreamed of working for as an actress in one of their productions. In addition, in May 2023, Asia was accepted into a workshop where she was able to learn from one of my role models Darrin Henson who’s starred in from Soul Food, Stomp the Yard, Family Business & Double Cross.
What sets her apart from others is her friendly personality, warm spirit, and passion for helping others succeed. She is most proud of her ability to inspire others and help bring their dreams and vision to life. In addition, she is an advocate for equal rights and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community and also part of the community.
She loves volunteering with Operations We Care with her pageant sisters where they box care packages for active duty men and women within the military.
Services:
As an actress, she specializes in film and theater, and as a model, she specializes in commercial modeling. She also offers production management services for directors and production companies and virtual personal assistant services.
She has earned a BA in Communications and an MS in Health and Wellness Coaching, specializing in nutrition, from Marymount University and Maryland University of Integrative Health . Also, she is a certified Integrative Health Coach, a certified minister with the Universal Life Church to officiate weddings. In addition, she is a certified mixologist where she can bartend at private events.
The main things I want my followers/client to know is about me:
She offers bartending services at private events, officiate weddings, provides virtual assistant and production manager services within the entertainment industry.
Check out her movies “A Hustler’s Son” and Killer Baby Mama which are on Amazon and Tubi. 10 Kilos in a Trunk, which is on Tubi, and Baltimore Christmas Carol on YouTube. Also, be on the look out for the movie “The Pushover”which will be coming out soon.
Asia and one of her best friends April Harrison will be working on the April and Asia show and is looking for feedback from their fans on what they would like to see.
If you want to join her amazing sister hood of the All American Pageant, send Asia a Direct message.
For any updates about her journey or to get in contact with her check out her social media platforms:
IG: asia_antoinettec
aams_asiaantoinette
Facebook: Asia Antoinette
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
To pursue my acting career full time, I left my full time government job to follow my passion and to pursue my dreams. I had to switch to becoming an entrepreneur and finding flexible jobs or my own clients within the industry, whether that be bartending private events to have the flexibility to go to auditions and not have to take a lot of time off and it has been the most fulfilling and rewarding thing to do. As Judi Johnson says “I love walking in my purpose on purpose which has opened so many doors. Take intentional time to listen to your heart, give yourself grace when you make mistakes, to applaud yourself when you achieve something and to hold yourself accountable when you know you can do better.”
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn giving up when you receive a lot of no’s. In this industry, you may not get call backs for a role or receive the role you want, because if you give up how are you supposed to know if you will succeed. As Tray Chaney would say for every 1,000 no that 1,001 chance could be your big break” . The most successful people on this earth never gave up and Tyler Perry is living proof of that. He lived in his car, worked minimum wage jobs and now has become the most successful black entrepreneur in the world. He is living proof of success and if he can push through so can I.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: asia_antoinettec
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=758901213
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-cunningham-9a265a58?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: @aacunningham08
- Other: http://imdb.me/AsiaAntoinette